Simara, March 6

Rupandehi-XI stunned Nepal APF Club 2-1 in extra time and entered the quarter-finals of the Ruslan seventh Simara Gold Cup Football Tournament here today.

Buddha Chemjong scored the winning goal in the added time for Rupandehi after APF skipper Ganesh Lawati had cancelled out Yogesh Gurung’s lead. Rupandehi will now play against Laxmi Hyundai Manang Marshyangdi Club for a place in the last four.

Rupandehi took the lead in the first minute of the second period when man-of-the-match Gurung scored a spectacular goal. His strike from the penalty box struck the post before entering the goal.

APF levelled the scores in the 58th minute when skipper Lawati found the nets following a cross from Rajendra Rawal. APF put Rupandehi under pressure throughout the match but strikers Anjan Bista and Lawati failed to convert hosts of opportunities, while Rupandehi also muffed up a couple of chances in the regulation time.

As the teams were deadlocked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, the match went to extra time and Chemjong scored the winning goal in the 15th minute. Chemjong charged down from outside the D-Box and APF goalkeeper Amrit Chaudhary failed to stop the shot as the ball took a deflection of the post before kissing the nets.

Rupandehi assistant coach Jagunath Khadka was a relieved man after the final whistle. “I am fully satisfied with the players’ performance in the match,” said Khadka. APF coach Janak Singh rued the missed opportunities and said the strikers let the team down. “We missed a couple of goal scoring chances,” said Singh. “The team looked tired as we are playing back-to-back matches,” he added.

On Monday, Ruslan Three Star Club will take on Tribhuvan Army Club.